North-only Rugby World Cup a ‘missed opportunity’

PLENTY of parents might have hoped the Black Ferns and the Women’s Rugby World Cup might offer a perfect way to keep the kids entertained during the upcoming school holidays – and if you live in Auckland or north of our largest city that might well be the case.

But for fans in the rest of the country, the fact that the reigning five-time champions won’t be playing outside Auckland and Whangā rei is a really tough blow.

Black Ferns coach Wayne Smith has already called the limited locations ‘‘a missed opportunity’’ and an article on Stuff today by Joseph Pearson highlights what a blow it is especially for rugby-mad Cantabrians, who have won five of the last six Farah Palmer Cups and make up almost a quarter of the Black Ferns squad.

‘‘We played Australia down in Christchurch [in August], that stand was full, and I think there were close to 5000 people there, which is exceptional,’’ Smith said. ‘‘But that’s beyond my pay grade,’’ he added of concerns about the format.

The successful bid in 2018 to host the first women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand didn’t include hosting matches south of Auckland.

Nearly four years later – and less than a fortnight from the World Cup’s October 8 launch – Pearson writes that the more costeffective decision seems at odds with the increasing prominence of women’s sport around the world.

‘‘Bids for the women’s World Cups for cricket (held here earlier this year) and football (held here with Australia next year) were won with matches held across the country,’’ he writes.

‘‘The Black Ferns have pool matches at each venue – Eden Park, Auckland’s

Waitā kere Stadium and Whangā rei’s Northland Events Centre – before the knockout stages but won’t connect, in person, throughout the World Cup in communities such as Waikato, Wellington,

Canterbury and Otago, who might not engage with the tournament.’’

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson admits ‘‘it would have been fantastic to play games at more centres’’.

‘‘But, at the same time, I hope people can understand there were some limitations that didn’t allow us to do what we wanted. Having as many opportunities as possible for people to be associated with the teams throughout the tournament would obviously be a great principle to follow. In future tournaments, that might be something because as the locations and revenues grow around the tournament, that’s more achievable.’’